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A's announce 2014 Minor League staff

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Press Release |

OAKLAND, Calif. - The Oakland A's today announced their minor league staff assignments for the 2014 season.

Marcus Jensen, manager of the A's Arizona Rookie League affiliate the past five years, was named minor league roving hitting instructor. Scott Emerson returns for his second consecutive season as minor league roving pitching instructor and Juan Navarrette will serve as minor league roving infield instructor for the 11th season.

The coaching staff at Triple-A Sacramento remains the same in 2014. Steve Scarsone returns for the second consecutive season after guiding the River Cats to a 79-65 record in 2013. He has a 489-489 record in seven seasons as a minor league manager, including stints in the A's system with Midland from 2011-12, Stockton in 2010 and Kane County in 2009. Greg Sparks returns to Sacramento for the third consecutive season as hitting coach and Rick Rodriguez will serve as pitching coach for the second straight year. Brad LaRosa returns as the athletic trainer.

Aaron Nieckula returns as manager at Double-A Midland after the RockHounds logged a 62-78 record in his first season. He has a 551-560 record in eight seasons as a manager in the A's farm system with the first seven coming with A's Single-A affiliates at Kane County (2006-08, 10), Stockton (2009) and Burlington (2011-12). Don Schulze returns for his fourth consecutive season as pitching coach with the RockHounds while Webster Garrison takes over as hitting coach. The 2014 season will mark Garrison's 16th on the A's minor league staff, his eighth as hitting coach at Midland (1999-2000, 2005-08, 2009-10). He has also managed eight seasons in the A's farm system, most recently at Stockton last year. Justin Whitehouse returns as the athletic trainer.

Ryan Christenson was promoted to manager at Stockton after making his managerial debut at Single-A Beloit in 2013. The Snappers finished 77-62 and defeated Clinton in the first round of the Midwest League playoffs before losing to Quad Cities in the semi-finals. John Wasdin was named pitching coach after serving in the same capacity at Vermont (2011), Burlington (2012) and Beloit (2013). Brian McArn is in his second stint as hitting coach with the Ports as he also served in that capacity from 2011-12 before moving to Midland last year. Travis Tims returns as athletic trainer.

Rick Magnante assumes the managerial reins at Beloit after spending the previous three seasons at the helm of Short Season Single-A Vermont. He has a 402-421 record in 11 campaigns as a minor league manager, including five years with the A's Vancouver affiliate from 2006-10 and three seasons in the Detroit farm system from 1987-89. Jimmy Escalante will be the pitching coach after fulfilling that role with the A's Rookie League team (2007-08, 12), Kane County (2009-10), Burlington (2011) and Stockton (2013). Lloyd Turner will serve as hitting coach after making his coaching debut at Vermont in 2013. Brian Thorson returns as athletic trainer

David Newhan makes his managerial debut at Vermont after spending the previous three seasons as hitting coach at Single-A Lake Elsinore in the San Diego Padres system. He was originally drafted by the A's in the 17th round of the 1995 draft and hit .253 in 413 games in eight Major League seasons with San Diego (1999-2000), Philadelphia (2000-01), Baltimore (2004-06), the New York Mets (2007) and Houston (2008). Craig Lefferts returns for his second consecutive season as pitching coach and it is his 12th in that capacity in the A's farm system. Tommy Everidge, a Santa Rosa, Calif. native, will serve as the hitting coach in his coaching debut. He was drafted by the A's in the 10th round of the 2004 draft and hit .224 in 24 games with Oakland in 2009. Toshi Nagahara returns as Athletic trainer.

Ruben Escalera will begin his second stint as manager of the A's affiliate in the Arizona Rookie League. He compiled a 177-206 record in seven seasons from 2002-08 and has spent the last five years in various roles as an instructor in the A's system. Carlos Chavez returns for his second consecutive season as pitching coach, Juan Dilone returns for his sixth season as hitting coach and Gabriel Ortiz is in his first season as coach. Chris Lessner returns as the athletic trainer.